Suzy, Drinker Of Coffee

Leyland Leopard thrash – one last time!

In order to commemorate the passing of the last Leyland Leopard/Alexander Y type single deck buses at Stagecoach Strathtay, a farewell event is being organised for Saturday 24^th March 2007. Subject to availability, one of the remaining Leopard's will duplicate the following service journeys:

Service 57 - 0900 Dundee bus station to Perth bus station (a.1052)

Service 16 - 1155 Perth bus station to Dundee bus station (a.1310)

Service 39 - 1350 Dundee bus station to Montrose High Street (a.1509)

Service 30 - 1510 Montrose High Street to Stracathro Hospital (a.1539)

Service 21 - 1600 Stracathro Hospital to Forfar East High Street (a.1636)

Service 20 - 1640 Forfar East High Street to Dundee bus station (a.1715)

Anyone interested can join the buses at any point, and stay for any number of journeys. Usual fares apply, including the £5.80 all-day Strathtay Rover.

Further information should be available later this week through the company
website at www.stagecoachbus.com/Strathtay

The three remaining Leyland Leopards are as follows -

25709 (TMS 409X) - originally Midland Scottish MPE409 (Strathtay SL45 then 545)

25755 (YSF 75S) - originally Fife Scottish FPE75 (Strathtay SL55 then 555)

25773 (EGB 73T) - originally Central Scottish T341 (Strathtay 573)

Since the company formation in 1985, Strathtay have operated a total of 71 full-size Leopards over the years, plus others as towing trucks – SL1 to SL69 as they were, plus 570 and 573. The Duple Dominants went when the first Darts arrived in 1993, the T-types did not last long, and then all the Y-types have slowly disappeared. 25755 is now entering its 30^th year of service! The first two are the 60 seater runs used for school runs between Alyth and Blargowrie High School, or school runs on Service 60 between Blairgowrie and Aberfeldy. These two were “upseated” to have 3 + 2 seats near the back (instead of 2 on each side), to allow more passengers on the one bus. The T-registered Leopard is normally used on a run from the Noranside area to Kirriemuir Webster’s High School. Replacements are due to be some ex-Fife Volvo/Plaxton coaches, upseated for the purpose.

If you join in, look for me on at least some of the trips! For the passengers, it will be good to finally see the back of these – but, it gives the gricers one last “thrash”. I was not so much of a fan, but since going home from the successful job interview in September 2002 on XSS 43Y (543, was SL43, now preserved), I guess you could say they’ve grown on me.

Labels: transport

posted by Suzy Scott @ 23:55